Articulated conveyer



June 27, 1950 F, CARTLIDGE 2,512,610

ARTICULATED CONVEYER Filed June 25, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet 1 adv b 27, 1950 F. CARTLIDGE ARTICULATED CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1947 Qtzarneg F. CARTLIDGE ARTICULATED CONVEYER June 27, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1947 LIZ/VENTOI? Hmk 6611154 6 (kmeeyp the' conveyor' pivotedilaterally to Patented June 27, 1950 Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, Ill., 'assignort -G u-q; man Manufacturing Company, Chicago;

a corporation of Illinois Applicationslune 25, 1947,lSerial No. 756,973

7 Claims. (01; 198-109) Tliisinventicn relatesto improvement's'in articulated conveyors of'the center strandendless chain and flight typeparticularly adapted for use on coalloading machines operable atthe working face of a mine.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a new and improved articulated conveyor having a noveL efficient, and simplified form of segmental form of trough construction for a center strand chain'and 'fiiglitconveyor, bridging the gap between-two spaced apart troughs one of which is laterally and vertically swingable with respectto. the othenwhich is so arranged as to provide .a uniformguide for. the chain of the conveyor on the ends ofits flights in allpositions of articulationoithe conveyor, and to hold the chain andfiight's to'travel in planes substantially parallel to the materialearrying surfaces of the conveyor. whenv the swingable troughv is in an inclined and laterally extendedposition with respect'to v the stationary trough of the conveyor.

Myip'resen't [invention is somewhat similar to the "disclosures 'oflmy, prior Patents Nos. 2,208,269 and 2,239,778, but differs therefrom in the form and arrangement of the intermediate trough-segmentsand that-guiding means for the chainas it passes therealong.

This and other objectsof my invention will moreclearly'appear. as this specification proceeds andwith' referencefto the drawings wherein; Y

Figure ,1 'aipartial fragmentary tplanview of the forward portion. of a face loading machine having a; conveyoriconstructed in accordance with my invention embodied therein, with. certain v FigureiZiis 'afpartial fragmentary view in side 'elevationpf the" forwardhpart of -a loading machine having" a: conveyor constructed in accorda'n'e with'my invention embodied therein, with certain parts ofthe conveyor and loading, ma

chine shown. in substantially longitudinal section; Figure 3 isa transverse sectional View taken substantially along line. 33of'Figure 1;.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing one extremerposition of adjustment; i

Figure 5 is an enlargedldetailview in side. elevation ofLthe trough segmentsiofthe. conveyor,

F gure 6 is anenl'argediragmentary plan view ofi'several'connected trough segment of the con- 'v'eyo'r; with" "certain narts therecr brokenraway 55 and certain other parts shown in substantially horizontalsection'.

In the drawingsth'e' embodiment" cl? my invention illustrated is'shown asforzning'theconveying elementof alface loadingmachine of a type similar to that shownand describe'd'in myPatentNo. 2388385,. and onlyh'e'r'ein' shown and described in "suffieient detail'to makemy presentiinvention readily understandable.

The loading'machine'includes generally a main frame In mounted on twola'terally spaced coritjinuoustread' devices" H and havinga gathering and loading element (not'shown) projecting :for- Wardly from itsfo'r'w'ard end; forpic'kingup 'loo'se coal from the ground andloadin'g' it ontoa conveyor IZ', which'may' extend from a pointadja- "cent the ground in advance of said main frame in an upwardlyin'clined' direction and over the top thereof in a substantially horizontal plane and in an overhanging discharge {po ition beyond the rear end thereof, "for loadingthe'coal gathered by said gathering and loadin'g'element into mine cars'or'the'like. v

"The conveyor I2 includes an inclined trough l3-'vertically movable about a transverse axis and laterally movable about a vertical axis (30- "axialwith a dead shaft 14 and bearing boss I5.

Said dead shaft and b'earing'boss' form a pivotal bearing support for a laterally movable" support frame I I, which'forms a support for said inclined trough and the laterally swing'able portion of the conveyor! .A short horizontal trough ISiorm's a continuation oi'said verticallyadjustabl'e inclined trough and is mounted on'said supportiframe for lateral movement therewith. A relatively horizontal stationary trough 20" is spaced rearwardly ofsaid trough f9" and extends along'sai'd main frame to therear end thereof andformsa rear- 'wardccntinuatic'n ofthe convem' r. The gap'between said trou hs; le'and' 20" is closed inallpos'itions' of articulation of the conveyor to form a smooth trough perniitting uninterrupted travel of coal by means o'fapluralit'y ofint'erengag'ing pivota'lly connected" trough segments 2 l", 2 ,l, as will 7 hereinafter more clearly appear as this specificat'ion' proceeds. I

The material moving-portion of *thec'onveyor is ofa well known form of center strand laterally flexible endless chain type of flight conveyorineluding an endless chain '23m'ade up of a plurality of aligned sections of chain vertically pivoted at their opposite ends to longitudinally spaced flights 24, 24, spacing said chain sections apart and guiding saidch'ain for movement along the central portion of said troughs. Said endless wardly flared side walls 41, 41.

chain and flights extend around a suitable direction changing device (not shown) at the forward end of the conveyor and upwardly along the inclined trough l3 and horizontal laterally movable trough I9. From thence said chain and. flights extend along the trough segments 2|, 2| to and along the stationary trough 20. From said stationary trough said chain and flights may extend along a laterally movable and vertically adjustable discharge trough (not shown) and reverse their direction of travel at the rear end of said trough.

The return run of the chain 23 and flights 24, 24 traveling beneath the troughs 20, I9 and I3 is guided between side walls 21, 21 depending from opposite sides of a bottom plate 29 of the trough 20 and is supported on a plate 30 extending along the top of said main frame. From thence said chain and flights are supported on a widened laterally extending substantially fan- }shaped plate 3|w extending a substantial distance in advance of said main frame. Said chain and flights while passing along said fanshaped plate are guided between supporting feet 32, 32 of the trough segments 2|, 2|- along flexible wearing strips 33, 33 engaging the insides of said feet and secured to one of said troughs and having slidable engagement with the other of said troughs, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. From said trough segments, said chain and flights are guided between the insides of side walls 34, 34 of the short trough l9. Said side walls depend from opposite sides of a bottom plate 35 of said short trough and said chain and flights are supported on a plate 36 secured between the lower ends of said side walls while passing along said short trough. From thence said chains extend under a drive sprocket (not shown) coaxial with the axis of vertical adjustment of the trough l3 and are held in engagement with said sprocket by suitable idlers (not shown) as in my Patent No. 2,388,385. Said chain and flights then extend to the forward end of said trough where they reverse their direction of travel.

The trough segments 2|, 2|, as herein shown, each include a transverse plate 31 of a substantially wing-shaped formation and having an arcuate tongue 39 extending forwardly from its center and adapted to slidably engage an arcuate recess 4!! formed in the rear portion of the next adjacent plate 31. A closure plate 4| is secured to the bottom of said transverse plate and extends rearwardly therefrom and underlaps the next adjacent plate 31 to as to form a closed bottom for the conveyor in all positions of articulation thereof. A pivotal pin 43 extends through the arcuate tongue 39 and the closure plate 4| to pivotally connect adjacent trough segments together for movement in a horizontal plane.

The feet 32, 32 are herein shown as being of a-T-shaped formation, the stem of the T sliding on the laterally extending plate 3| at its end, and the cross of the T abutting the bottom of the closure plate 4| and being secured thereto by cap screws 44, 44. Said cap screws extend through opposite sides of the stem of the T and through said closure plate, and are threaded in flanges 45, 45 extending outwardly from the lower ends of vertical wall portions 46, 4B of out- Said flared side walls extend angularly outwardly from the upper ends of said vertical wall portions 46, Miami extend along the opposite sides of said transverse and said closure plates, to form the flared side walls of the trough segment. The insides of said flared side walls curve inwardly in opposite directions from a central peak to form two similar concave inner surfaces 48, 48. The outer surfaces of said side walls conform to the form of said inner surfaces and the rearward outer surface of each of said side walls is slidably engaged by the forward inner surface of the side wall of the next adjacent trough segment. Alternate inner and outer curved surfaces are thus slidably engaged by the outer and inner surfaces of the next adjacent trough segments so as to form a continuous flared trough when said trough segments are in various positions of articulation with respect to each other.

The transverse plate 31 of the first trough segment 2| overlaps a closure plate 49 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivotal pin 50. Said closure plate is secured to the underside of a plate 5| as by welding, and extends rearwardly therefrom (see Figure 1). Said plate 5| abuts and extends rearwardly from the rear end of the plate 35 and is also secured thereto as by Welding. Said plate 5| is of a form similar to the rear portion of the transverse plate 31 and has the tongue 39 of the first trough segment 2| recessed therein. Said closure plate 49 has vertical wall portions like the wall portions 46, 46 of the trough segments 2|, 2| secured to its upper side and has outwardly flared curved side walls 53, 53 extending outwardly from the tops of said guide portions. Said side walls are of a form similar to the side walls 41, 41, but are of substantially half the length of said side walls and are of a single concave formation looking from the insides thereof. Said side walls abut and are secured to the rear edges of the side walls of the horizontal trough I9 and form rearwardly extending continuations thereof, the curved outsides of which are slidably engaged by the curved insides of the flared side walls of the first trough segment 2|.

The last trough segment 2| is pivotally con nected to a slidable trough section 55 by a pivotal pin 56. Said slidable trough section is guided in the receiving end of the trough 20 and is slidably mounted on the forward end of the plate 29, to take care of differences in length of the conveyor in its various positions of articulation. Said slidable trough has curved side wall portions 51, 51 corresponding to the curvature of the outsides of one. half of the curved portions 48, 48 of the side walls 41, 41 and slidably engaging the outsides of said side walls. Said slidable trough also has a forwardly extending transverse plate 59 forming a continuation of its bottom and secured thereto, as by welding. Said plate is of substantially the same form as the form of the forward portion of the transverse plate 31 and has a forwardly projecting tongue 60 which is recessed within the rear recessed portion 40 of said plate 31 and is pivotally connected to the closure plate 4| Of said last trough segment by the pivotal pin 56.

Each side wall 41 of each trough segment has a horizontal retaining flange 62 extending inwardly therefrom at the upper end of the vertical wall portion 46 thereof. Said flanges are so formed that a bottom 63 of one half of each flange slidably engages a top 64 of another half of the next adjacent flange. As herein shown, said top is formed of a plate secured to said side wall and underlapping and secured to said bottom 63 of the same flange. Similar flanges 65, 65 extend in- W Y f om the side Walls 53, 53. Said flanges overmwtlie top il" of the flange =62} and arein rhorizonta1"-a1ignment*withretaining flanges -tt, wi'iich"extend along the-inner sidesofopposite 'sid=walis34f'3l' ofthesliort trough 19.

In ali'kemannerrtlie slidable trough-55 1s prowit'h" retaining'flanges 6 1; '61- in'- vertical alignmentwithretaining fiangestaj 68 extending 'along'oppositeside wallsof-the stationary'trough '28, andfiiaving apbrtionfi 9 "und'erlappingi thebottom-BS- f-thefiange' 62'-'of-th'e last trough segment 2|? The flanges Bl 621965,651"6Bj66'j'61j 61 and69, '69 "thus forming-retaining iroid d'o'vvn"'gnids' fin tlrie endsofthe fiights"24i 24', to counteract=-the *ten'dencyof the chain2'3to twist -duringjo'peration of the conveyor;, wiierr' the inclined elevating troughf3 moves-toits= extreme laterallir' and downwardijrdinla'ced position with respect to the horizontal *stationaryitrouglr 2t.-

'I'he1fisid'esof-the'hottoms 63; 63 of the retainiflg flangestl 6 2"ofthe troughsegm'entsfl. '2 I arlegibh'ed 'as'indicated by reference character 'TBinligure-fi. "Ifietransversewlates -37, 31h'ave eroovesformedthereln irr-vertical alignment with theln'sides'of the gibbeti' portionsof "said flanges, '-toprovide slida-bie' guides for opposite sides 0! 'fiexifil'wearing s'tr'insl 13E Said wearing'str'ips close the gaps 'netweenithevertic a1- 'gni-de'portions otsaidtioughisegment's'and form'a' uniformiguide ibl wearingstrins' slidably engagingthe insides guiding'the'iower run' of the chain are secured "at their forward ends-to the depending side walls 34; 'Moff'theshort trough" i9"as "by rivets- 16', 1'6 (see Figure 2); Solid wearing strips -=s1idably err- .gage the insides of the feet 32, 32 and"close-'the gapstherebetween and extend' along and slide laterally-of -the laterall'y extendingplate '3 I npon laterally swingizigmovement of the troughs l3 and 19. Saidwearing stripsare slidably guided at their'ends opposite said "tiolIgh' 19 between the insides "of "the" depending side walls of the Said 'guide"stfips"are spaced inwardly ofsa'id side walls'and'are secured'toand extend-along the *bottornnl'ate "30in" parallel relation with respect to 'saidwalliandwith said sidewalls form asl-iiiable guide" 'for' said wearingstrips. Said'" wearing strips 33, 33 will thus Bend-uniformly with said trough segments'and' slidably engage the-insides ottiie "feet thereof andform anniform guide for later-antic 'one'direction'or' another.

Wiiile Ihave lier'ein showrr and described one form m'wrd'cn'myinventionniaybe embodied; it

will be understood-mat the construction thereof and the arrangement of the' various parts may be altered without 'dep'arting from the spirit and scope thereofz Furthermore; Ido not'wish to :be construed es -limiting my invention to the specific embodiment -ill-ustrated; excepting'as it maybe limited in'theamended claims.

I ciaini i as my invention:

1.- Iii" an articulated-- conveyor, two spaced troughs, oneofwhich has anmpwardly inclined portion leading; upwardb' towards the other and verticall y and Horizontally swingable with re- -speot to the other, alaterallyflexible endless chain' movablefisuostantial-iy along: the longitudinai central portions oi said i troughs from one end-of onetrough' tothe opposite end of the other; longittrdina'll'y spaced flights projecting laterally in :opp'osite directions" from I said chain and guiding said-chain on' their ends for movemerit along said: troughs, a plurality of. trough segments pivota-rllyconnected'together and havingiriterengaging siderwalls' for brid 'ging the' gap between said' troughsg'i retaining flanges extending inwardly oi said" sid walls' or said trough segmen'ts'a'dj aoeiit the lower ends-thereof and :hav-

ing-slidatile engagement'with each other-to -form a continuous hold-down means adapted 'to engage the unner sides or i-said flights; to restrain said dh-ain' from twisting when Said horiZQntaHy and vertically movable trough f is" in its: various interned and laterally displaced positions with =respect tosaid-other trough, and two flexible-wearing strips 's'li'dablyengaging thefinsides ofthe side waiisoi sa'id trough'segmentsand held iii-position bysaid flanges and rforming a um'for'mly' 'curving guide means for said: flights," for guiding "said fiiglits' and ch'ain' from onetrough to the other when" said trougiis'are in'various positionsof articulat'lon with respect to 'each other:

2. in an articulated conveyor, two spaced troughs, one of which has anupwardiy inclined portion leading upwardly towards'the'otherand isverticalli and horizontally swingable with 'respect to the other, a laterally flexible-endless chain movable along the' longitudinal central portions of 'said troughs from one end of one to'the' opposite end ofthe other, longituciinaliy' spaced' flights projecting laterally in opposite directions'iroansaid chain and guiding said 'trongii segments'and' hem imposition "by' said fianges'and "forming a uniformly curving guide meansffer said: flights; for goidmg said flight; and' ohain from one trough to'theother when saidtroughsarein various wositions or articulation with respect to each" other; said flexible wee strips being secured atone of their ends the-"insides-of the side walls- 0f "one of s'aid troughs and being -slidably guided adjacent their opposite ends an the insides of "the other ot sa-id troughs;-

3. In an articulated conveyor, two spaced troughs, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, a laterally flexible endless chain movable along the longitudinal central portions of said troughs from one end of one trough to the opposite end of the other, spaced apart flights projecting laterally in opposite directions from said chain and guiding said chain on their ends for movement along said troughs, a laterally extending plate disposed between said troughs and forming a support for the return run of said chain and flights when passing between said troughs, a plurality of pivotally connected trough segments connected between adjacent ends of said troughs and mounted on said plate for laterally slidable movement therealong, said trough segments each including a transverse plate supporting the upper run of said chain and flights and forming a material carrying sur face of the conveyor, a plurality of laterally spaced feet slidably mounting said trough segments on said laterally extending plate and spacing said transverse plate above said laterally extending plate, vertical wall portions projecting upwardly from opposite sides of said transverse plate, curved flared interengaging wall portions flaring outwardly from said vertical wall portions and having slidable interengaging connection with the side walls of the next adjacent trough segments, and flexible wearing strips forming continuations of the side walls of said troughs above and below said transverse plate and slid ably engaging the insides of said supporting feet and said vertical wall portions of said trough segments, for closing the gaps therebetween and guiding the upper and return runs of said chain and flights on the ends of said flights from one trough to the other when said troughs are in various positions of articulation with respect to each other.

4. In an articulated conveyor, two spaced troughs, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, a laterally flexible endless chain movable along said troughs from one end of one trough to the opposite end of the other, longitudinally spaced flights projecting laterally in opposite directions from said chain, said troughs each including a bottom plate, material retaining side walls projecting upwardly therefrom and chain guiding side walls extendin downwardly therefrom and the upper and lower runs of said chain being guided for movement between said side walls by engagement of the ends of said flights therewith, a laterally extending plate disposed between said troughs and forming a support for the return run of said chain and flights when passing between said troughs, a plurality of pivotally connected trough segments connected between adjacent ends of said troughs and bridging the gap therebetween, said trough segments each including a transverse plate forming a material carrying surface of the conveyor, a plurality of laterally spaced feet spacing said transverse plate above said laterally extending plate and mounting said transverse plate for lateral slidable movement along said laterally extending plate, vertical wall portions projecting upwardly from opposite sides of said transverse plate, and curved flared interengaging wall portions extending angularly outwardly from said vertical wall portions and having slidable interengaging connection with the side walls of the next adjacent trough segments, and a jacent one of their ends to said upwardly and downwardly projecting side walls of one of said troughs and slidably guided in said upwardly and downwardly projecting side walls of said other trough and having slidable engagement with said vertical wall portions and with said feet of said trough segments, for closing the gaps therebetween and guiding the upper and return runs of said chain and flights on the ends of said flights while traveling from one trough to the other when said troughs are in various positions of articulation with respect to each other.

5. In an articulated conveyor, two spaced troughs, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, a laterally flexible endless chain movable along the central portions of said troughs from one end of one trough to the opposite end of the other, spaced apart flights projecting laterally in opposite directions from said chain and guiding said chain on their ends for movement along said troughs, a laterally extending plate disposed between said troughs and forming a support for the return run of said chain and flights when passing between said troughs, a plurality of pivotally connected trough segments connected between adjacent ends of said troughs and mounted for laterally slidable movement along said plate, said trough segments each including a transverse plate spaced above said laterally extending plate and supporting the upper run of said chain and flights and forming a material carrying surface of the conveyor, vertical wall portions projecting upwardly from opposite sides of said transverse plate, retaining flanges extending inwardly of said vertical wall portions adjacent the upper extremities thereof having slidable interengaging connection with the retaining flanges of adjacent trough segments, and adapted to be engaged by the top portions of said flights to retain said flights in a relatively horizontal position during movement along said trough segments, said trough segments having laterally curved flared interengaging wall portions flaring outwardly from said retaining flanges and having slidable interengaging. connection with the side walls of the next adjacent trough segments, and flexible wearing strips extending beneath said retaining flanges and held in position thereby and forming continuations of the side walls of said troughs and slidably engaging the insides of said vertical wall portions and forming uniformly curved guides for the ends of said flights, when said troughs are in various positions of articulation with respect to each other, for guiding said chain from one trough to the other.

6. In an articulated conveyor, two spaced troughs, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, a laterally flexible endless chain movable along the central portions of said troughs from one end of one trough to the op: posite end of the other, spaced apart flights projecting laterally in opposite directions from said chain and guiding saidchain on their ends for movement along said troughs, a laterally. extending plate disposed between said troughs and forming a support for the return run of said chain and flights when passing between said troughs, a plurality of pivotally connected trough segments connected between adjacent ends of said troughs and mounted for laterally slidable movement along said plate, said trough segments each including a transverse plate supporting the upper run of said chain and flights and forming a material carrying surface of the conveyor, a plurality of laterally spaced feet slidably mounted on and spacing said transverse plate above said laterally extending plate, vertical wall portions projecting upwardly from opposite sides of said transverse plate, retaining flanges extending inwardly of said vertical wall portions adjacent the upper extremities thereof, said retaining flanges having slidable interengaging connection with the retaining flanges of the next adjacent trough segments and being adapted to be engaged by the top portions of said flights, to retain said flights in a position substantially parallel to said laterally extending plates, and said trough segments having flared interengaging wall portions flaring outwardly from the upper outer portions of said retaining flanges and having slidable interengaging connection with the side walls of the next adjacent trough segments, two flexible wearing strips slidably engaging the insides of said vertical wall portions and two flexible wearing strips slidably engaging the insides of said feet and forming uniformly curved guides for the ends of said flights on the upper and lower runs of said chain when said troughs are in various positions of articulation with respect to each other, for guiding the upper and lower runs of said chain from one trough to the other.

7. In an articulated conveyor, two spaced troughs, one of which is laterally swingable with respect to the other, a laterally flexible endless chain movable along said troughs from one end of one trough to the opposite end of the other, longitudinally spaced flights projecting laterally in opposite directions from said chain, said troughs each including a bottom plate, material retaining side walls projectin upwardly therefrom and chain guiding side walls extending downwardly therefrom, and the upper and lower runs of said chain being guided for movement between said side walls by engagement of the ends of said flights therewith, a laterally extending plate disposed between said troughs and forming a support for the return run of said chain and flights when passing between said troughs, a plurality of pivotally connected trough segments connected between adjacent ends of troughs and bridging the gap therebetween, said trough segments each including a transverse plate forming a material carrying surface of the conveyor, a plurality of laterally spaced feet slidably engaging said laterally extending plate and spacing said transverse plate above said laterally extending plate, vertical wall portions projecting upwardly from opposite sides of said transverse plate, retaining flanges extending inwardly of said vertical wall portions adjacent the upper extremities thereof said retaining flanges having slidable interengaging connection with the retaining flanges of the next adjacent trough segment and forming continuous retaining flanges serving to retain said flights to travel in planes substantially parallel to said transverse plates, said trough segments having laterally flared interengaging wall portions flaring outwardly from the upper outer portions of said retaining flanges and having slidable interengaging connection with the side walls of the next adjacent trough segments, and a plurality of flexible wearing strips secured adjacent one of their ends to said upwardly and downwardly projecting side walls of one of said troughs and slidably guided in said upwardly and downwardly projecting side walls of the other of said troughs and having slidable engagement with said vertical wall portions and with said feet of said trough segments and forming a uniform guide means for guiding the upper and lower runs of said chain on the ends of said flights while travelin from one trough to the other when said troughs are in various positions of articulation with respect to each other.

FRANK CART'LIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,216,546 Cartlidge Oct. 1, 1940 2,239,778 Cartlidge Apr. 29, 1941 2,388,385 Cartlidge Nov. 6, 1945 

